Despite Economy, Fishing License Sales Up

mark2olson · 11-16-2009, 11:00 AM

Sales increase mirrors recreational fishing's heyday in the 1960s and 1970s...

As of September 1, 2009, state fish and wildlife agencies reported a 7.7 percent positive change in the number of licenses sold year-to-date compared to the same months last year (January - July 2009 vs. January - July 2008). The same states also saw a seven percent increase in the number of licenses sold in July 2009 compared with July 2008.

American Sportfishing Association

We can hope that this represents a long term trend...

WalterPayton34 · 11-16-2009, 11:09 AM

And they will probably drop next year, because they are practically doubling the cost.

TheDude · 11-16-2009, 12:03 PM

I'm willing to bet it's because people are thinking, "the fishing license fee is cheap entertainment for an entire years worth of fishing." Which is true, if you don't factor any other expense into your outtings. But, despite what any of our tackle boxes would likely show, you can fish for next to nothing. $20 walmart combo and if you spend $25 on you combo it might even come with bobbers, lures, and hooks... all you need to do then is drop a couple bucks on some crawlers. Cheap entertainment, and it's only as expensive as you make it.

H2only · 11-16-2009, 12:18 PM

maybe they are off setting their grocery bills with fish

Coop · 11-16-2009, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WalterPayton34

And they will probably drop next year, because they are practically doubling the cost.

Really?

Because in '09 a fishing license cost $26. In 2010 it will cost $28.50, which by my math is a difference of $2.50. Same with the hunt and fish combo. $37.50 to $40. I'm not sure how this could be seen as 'practically doubling.'

Mr. Boston · 11-16-2009, 03:41 PM

self delete

WalterPayton34 · 11-16-2009, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Boston

Habitat looks like its up $4 from $16 to a total of $20.00

Your right, I miss read it.

bassinoutwest · 11-16-2009, 04:55 PM

gotta pay for those wipers in zorinsky...and all those walleyes in the state lakes that folks seem to want somehow...

on a serious note: I know that increased costs start to hit folks hard. But the smallest expense I have in fishing each year is my license. the gass to/from the lake costs way, way more...the fishing line I put on my reels is many times more expensive..the plastics I go through in a year of bassing...well you don't want to know...but it's 'big' too...

all so I can catch somewhere around 500 bass a year... good thing I don't try and calculate out the 'cost/pound' ...

so, if I drive 'one or two' gallons less next summer, I offset my license increases...if I buy one less case of beer I offset my license fee increase...

all things I'd rather give up than my fishing license. but that's my call. I'd not wish to make it for anyone else.

But the good news is that the estimated $9/month in tax savings for us 'middle classers' will more than offset any increases...

thank you government.

WalterPayton34 · 11-16-2009, 10:32 PM

Do any of you think the NGPC should focus on quantity of licenses sold rather then selling fewer at a higher price? There has to be a tipping point on the curve. I'm also curious to know how many economists work for the NGPC or if any of the people there have taken micro or macro econ?

**MA Machine** · 11-17-2009, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WalterPayton34

Do any of you think the NGPC should focus on quantity of licenses sold rather then the amount they sell? There has to be a tipping point on the curve. I'm also curious to know how many economists work for the NGPC or if any of the people there have taken micro or macro econ?

Isn't "quantity" and "amount" the same thing? I'm hoping that the G & P are being ran by biologist and other pointy heads instead of a bunch of accountants, and other number crunchers or they might figure out it's cheaper to promote carp fishing.

Coop · 11-17-2009, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Boston

Habitat looks like its up $4 from $16 to a total of $20.00

Aquatic Habitat is only going up $2.50 to $10, it was $7.50 last year. Looks like there's a break on the combo license, as it is only going up $2.50, not the $6.50 I'd expect. Unless the habitat stamp is extra on that one, but I thought it was included in all licenses now.

Mr. Boston · 11-17-2009, 08:05 AM

The original post I was responding to was edited but it referenced a habitat stamp increase of $20 in error. I will edit my post since it looks out of place. Thanks

bassinoutwest · 11-17-2009, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MA Machine

Isn't "quantity" and "amount" the same thing? I'm hoping that the G & P are being ran by biologist and other pointy heads instead of a bunch of accountants, and other number crunchers or they might figure out it's cheaper to promote carp fishing.

my thoughts too...I'm trying to infer what was actually asked...

I'm sure there's an important point there...but, God, did I hate Econ classes...almost as much as Accounting...much preferred Ichthyology

whitetips · 11-17-2009, 10:03 AM

OK, let me chirp in a couple of comments here.

First of all, the modest increase in the price of fishing permits will provide funding that will be used on a new program to improve angler access on public waters. Specifically, we intend to improve access for new and beginning anglers with that program.

Secondly, many of us have had some coursework in economics, but nope, no economists sitting around here setting permit prices. We do however consult with economists and that is usually a very interesting exercise. For example, I have often been criticized for pointing out the actual replacement value of fish and noting that when viewed in those terms your fishing permit is actually one heck of a bargain.

Or how about this economic exercise: Ask yourself how much would you be willing to pay to fish?

"Fishing is worth any amount of effort and any amount of expense to people who love it, because in the end you get such a large number of dreams per fish."--Ian Frazier, The Fish's Eye

I realize that we are in competition for people's recreational time and money. I also realize that there are a lot of competing activities in today's world, and most of them are at least as expensive as fishing. Go ahead, take up golf.

Keep in mind that stewardship of the state's fisheries resources and providing fishing opportunities is not accomplished for free. In North America hunters, anglers and trappers have been the ones to step forward to pay for fish & wildlife conservation. This has been the most successful system of wildlife conservation the world has seen.

I do not know what the "ideal" price of a fishing permit should be. We try to keep it as inexpensive as possible and as a result over the years we have kept pace with inflation. I do know that for every fishing permit we sell we are able to claim additional monies that are returned to the states from federal excise taxes on fishing and boating equipment (approximately $26 for every certified permit buyer). I am betting that we are just about where we need to be.

Daryl Bauer
Fisheries Outreach Program Manager
Nebraska Game & Parks Commission
daryl.bauer@nebraska.gov
Barbs and Backlashes

Bbowsh54 · 11-18-2009, 12:32 PM

I am the only one in my family who prefers Fishing to Golf...

I do not think it is about the money, but I've never actually thought about it like this... I think if I were to purchase a $500 season pass to a golf course, I'd end up spending less money a year than fishing. However, that due to the fact that I'm always purchasing new lures, line, live bait, gas, and better rods/reels... I have been using the same set of clubs for the last eight years, and have no desire to upgrade.

I hope fishing license prices do not go up, but I'm sure I would still pay if they did... Unless the passion for fishing ever dies...? (Doubt it.)

bradh · 11-18-2009, 12:58 PM

Back when I was in my early to mid 20s I could blow more money in the bar in one weekend than I spend in an entire year now on licenses. Cheap fun if you ask me.

Fishingnerd33 · 11-18-2009, 03:26 PM

I hate to see the prices going up, but what hasn't gone up?

A bottle of pop is $1, gum is like $.50, gas is $2.70ish, bread is like $1.38

I'm ok with paying whatever the prices are, I don't really keep up with the prices, because I'm still going to go and buy a permit and fish. Just gives me an excuse to go out more...that way the permit is less expensive per trip the more I go!!

TROUTMAN · 11-18-2009, 04:50 PM

Ok, $8.00 - $10.00 to get into a movie. Ad popcorn & a soda, some milk duds, about $12.00 more. $20.00 plus for 2 1/2 hours of "entertainment".
I think a fishing license is a tremendous value and one of the few taxes, along with my park permit, of which I approve the way the goverment spends the money. I do hope the amount is not prohibitive for those on a very tight budget but if most can afford cable & a cell phone with 600 aps I don't believe the amount charged for a fishing permit should be viewed as a burden. My 2 cents.

**holdemplyer** · 11-18-2009, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradh

Back when I was in my early to mid 20s I could blow more money in the bar in one weekend than I spend in an entire year now on licenses. Cheap fun if you ask me.

A hunt/fish combo will cost $65 in 2010 (you can buy them online now in fact at the game and parks website) that includes the habitat stamp, and waterfowl stamp.

That'll last me all year, I've blown way more money than that in bars in a single night, about that much taking the family to a two hour movie, and I've watched way, WAY more than that go down the drain in a single hand of poker.

I'll gladly pay for the permit. Spread that out over the amount of time I spend fishing alone, and it's pennies per hour.

jarredbehrendt · 11-19-2009, 11:43 AM

The only part you are forgetting is the park permits, they need to be figured into the equation if you want to account for the costs of fishing (unless you only fish one or two city lakes). Anyway I will still ending up paying the fees because what choice do I really have, I would spend a lot more on fuel to constantly go home to fish.

One question though, why do I have to pay for a waterfowl stamp? I have never waterfowled in my life and dont intend to do so in the near future (its too expensive to get into right now).

11-16-2009, 11:00 AM	#1 (permalink)
mark2olson mark2olson has no status. Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 217 Thanks: 14 Thanked 177 Times in 78 Posts Blog Entries: 7	Despite Economy, Fishing License Sales Up Sales increase mirrors recreational fishing's heyday in the 1960s and 1970s... As of September 1, 2009, state fish and wildlife agencies reported a 7.7 percent positive change in the number of licenses sold year-to-date compared to the same months last year (January - July 2009 vs. January - July 2008). The same states also saw a seven percent increase in the number of licenses sold in July 2009 compared with July 2008. American Sportfishing Association We can hope that this represents a long term trend...

11-16-2009, 12:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
TheDude TheDude is "very anal about keeping his ice hole clean and free of obstructions." Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Seward Posts: 257 Thanks: 33 Thanked 53 Times in 32 Posts	I'm willing to bet it's because people are thinking, "the fishing license fee is cheap entertainment for an entire years worth of fishing." Which is true, if you don't factor any other expense into your outtings. But, despite what any of our tackle boxes would likely show, you can fish for next to nothing. $20 walmart combo and if you spend $25 on you combo it might even come with bobbers, lures, and hooks... all you need to do then is drop a couple bucks on some crawlers. Cheap entertainment, and it's only as expensive as you make it. __________________ "Many Men Go Fishing All of Their Lives Without Knowing That It Is not Fish They Are After."

11-16-2009, 12:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
H2only H2only has no status. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 1,685 Thanks: 86 Thanked 302 Times in 206 Posts	maybe they are off setting their grocery bills with fish __________________ "A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have." - Thomas Jefferson

11-16-2009, 03:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mr. Boston Mr. Boston has no status. Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: n/a Posts: 68 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 11 Posts	self delete __________________ Message Boards: "Solving all the world's problems one post at a time"

11-17-2009, 08:05 AM	#12 (permalink)
Mr. Boston Mr. Boston has no status. Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: n/a Posts: 68 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 11 Posts	The original post I was responding to was edited but it referenced a habitat stamp increase of $20 in error. I will edit my post since it looks out of place. Thanks __________________ Message Boards: "Solving all the world's problems one post at a time"

11-16-2009, 11:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
WalterPayton34 WalterPayton34 has no status. Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 264 Thanks: 42 Thanked 30 Times in 26 Posts	And they will probably drop next year, because they are practically doubling the cost.

11-16-2009, 04:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
bassinoutwest bassinoutwest has no status. Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 799 Thanks: 68 Thanked 260 Times in 161 Posts	gotta pay for those wipers in zorinsky...and all those walleyes in the state lakes that folks seem to want somehow... on a serious note: I know that increased costs start to hit folks hard. But the smallest expense I have in fishing each year is my license. the gass to/from the lake costs way, way more...the fishing line I put on my reels is many times more expensive..the plastics I go through in a year of bassing...well you don't want to know...but it's 'big' too... all so I can catch somewhere around 500 bass a year... good thing I don't try and calculate out the 'cost/pound' ... so, if I drive 'one or two' gallons less next summer, I offset my license increases...if I buy one less case of beer I offset my license fee increase... all things I'd rather give up than my fishing license. but that's my call. I'd not wish to make it for anyone else. But the good news is that the estimated $9/month in tax savings for us 'middle classers' will more than offset any increases... thank you government.

11-16-2009, 10:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
WalterPayton34 WalterPayton34 has no status. Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 264 Thanks: 42 Thanked 30 Times in 26 Posts	Do any of you think the NGPC should focus on quantity of licenses sold rather then selling fewer at a higher price? There has to be a tipping point on the curve. I'm also curious to know how many economists work for the NGPC or if any of the people there have taken micro or macro econ?

11-17-2009, 10:03 AM	#14 (permalink)
whitetips whitetips has no status. Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Lincoln Posts: 320 Thanks: 47 Thanked 490 Times in 161 Posts	Fishing Permit $$ OK, let me chirp in a couple of comments here. First of all, the modest increase in the price of fishing permits will provide funding that will be used on a new program to improve angler access on public waters. Specifically, we intend to improve access for new and beginning anglers with that program. Secondly, many of us have had some coursework in economics, but nope, no economists sitting around here setting permit prices. We do however consult with economists and that is usually a very interesting exercise. For example, I have often been criticized for pointing out the actual replacement value of fish and noting that when viewed in those terms your fishing permit is actually one heck of a bargain. Or how about this economic exercise: Ask yourself how much would you be willing to pay to fish? "Fishing is worth any amount of effort and any amount of expense to people who love it, because in the end you get such a large number of dreams per fish."--Ian Frazier, The Fish's Eye I realize that we are in competition for people's recreational time and money. I also realize that there are a lot of competing activities in today's world, and most of them are at least as expensive as fishing. Go ahead, take up golf. Keep in mind that stewardship of the state's fisheries resources and providing fishing opportunities is not accomplished for free. In North America hunters, anglers and trappers have been the ones to step forward to pay for fish & wildlife conservation. This has been the most successful system of wildlife conservation the world has seen. I do not know what the "ideal" price of a fishing permit should be. We try to keep it as inexpensive as possible and as a result over the years we have kept pace with inflation. I do know that for every fishing permit we sell we are able to claim additional monies that are returned to the states from federal excise taxes on fishing and boating equipment (approximately $26 for every certified permit buyer). I am betting that we are just about where we need to be. Daryl Bauer Fisheries Outreach Program Manager Nebraska Game & Parks Commission daryl.bauer@nebraska.gov Barbs and Backlashes

11-18-2009, 12:32 PM	#15 (permalink)
Bbowsh54 Bbowsh54 is running out of time to fish this year. Hopefully, I can sneek in a few more weekends. Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Eastern SD - Visit NE Frequently Posts: 267 Thanks: 134 Thanked 71 Times in 60 Posts	I am the only one in my family who prefers Fishing to Golf... I do not think it is about the money, but I've never actually thought about it like this... I think if I were to purchase a $500 season pass to a golf course, I'd end up spending less money a year than fishing. However, that due to the fact that I'm always purchasing new lures, line, live bait, gas, and better rods/reels... I have been using the same set of clubs for the last eight years, and have no desire to upgrade. I hope fishing license prices do not go up, but I'm sure I would still pay if they did... Unless the passion for fishing ever dies...? (Doubt it.) __________________ Thanks, Bowsh

11-18-2009, 12:58 PM	#16 (permalink)
bradh bradh is tying bucktail, twisting wire and thinking esox Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Columbus Posts: 555 Thanks: 311 Thanked 244 Times in 131 Posts	Back when I was in my early to mid 20s I could blow more money in the bar in one weekend than I spend in an entire year now on licenses. Cheap fun if you ask me.

11-18-2009, 03:26 PM	#17 (permalink)
Fishingnerd33 Fishingnerd33 is waiting...ice rod in hand. Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chadron, NE Posts: 1,575 Thanks: 1,083 Thanked 281 Times in 157 Posts	I hate to see the prices going up, but what hasn't gone up? A bottle of pop is $1, gum is like $.50, gas is $2.70ish, bread is like $1.38 I'm ok with paying whatever the prices are, I don't really keep up with the prices, because I'm still going to go and buy a permit and fish. Just gives me an excuse to go out more...that way the permit is less expensive per trip the more I go!! __________________ 'The core of a man’s heart is undomesticated and that is good. "I am not alive in an office," as one Northface ad has it. "I am not alive in a taxi cab. I am not alive on a sidewalk." Amen to that. Their conclusion? "Never stop exploring." ' 'Wild at Heart'by John Eldredge Rest In Peace, OBG.

11-18-2009, 04:50 PM	#18 (permalink)
TROUTMAN TROUTMAN is Praying for a sunny weekend Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: OMAHA Posts: 409 Thanks: 158 Thanked 43 Times in 38 Posts	Ok, $8.00 - $10.00 to get into a movie. Ad popcorn & a soda, some milk duds, about $12.00 more. $20.00 plus for 2 1/2 hours of "entertainment". I think a fishing license is a tremendous value and one of the few taxes, along with my park permit, of which I approve the way the goverment spends the money. I do hope the amount is not prohibitive for those on a very tight budget but if most can afford cable & a cell phone with 600 aps I don't believe the amount charged for a fishing permit should be viewed as a burden. My 2 cents. __________________ “When all the trees have been cut down, when all the animals have been hunted, when all the waters are polluted, when all the air is unsafe to breathe, only then will you discover you cannot eat money.” ~ Cree prophecy

11-19-2009, 11:43 AM	#20 (permalink)
jarredbehrendt jarredbehrendt is Dreaming of Paradise Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Omaha, NE for now.... Certified Youth Fishing Instructor Posts: 2,469 Thanks: 591 Thanked 403 Times in 301 Posts Blog Entries: 68	The only part you are forgetting is the park permits, they need to be figured into the equation if you want to account for the costs of fishing (unless you only fish one or two city lakes). Anyway I will still ending up paying the fees because what choice do I really have, I would spend a lot more on fuel to constantly go home to fish. One question though, why do I have to pay for a waterfowl stamp? I have never waterfowled in my life and dont intend to do so in the near future (its too expensive to get into right now). __________________ Fish when you can...... Work when you have to.

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